Zitat/We are a group of International Alumni who present in cooperation with the International Office facts and data about our Alma Master and our Alumni. Alumni who are not listed yet, are invited to join us!Zitat/

Fußnote unter der Alumni-Liste:Zitat/Due to privacy ordiance, the university will not disclose any student record unless with written authorization from students. The alumni list does not contain all graduates. Any amendment will not be served with advance notice. Unless the university receives authorization from students, students as well as graduates' name and their contact information will not be disclosed. Graduates from Hong Kong and China can contact Professor Gary Chan, Prof. Michael Lee and Prof Amen Lee Chi Shing for record update.

University administrative policy. University will not disclose student and graduate information nor academic result unless with written authorization from students. University staff will answer email and enquires and the normal response time is within 72 hours. All international alumni records have been kept safely in their local campus and in Costa Rica campus. Graduates name will be updated on our official website upon authorization from students./ZitatQuelle: Webarchive

"Diploma mills are a huge problem. They are an international problem. It doesn't matter where they are operating from."Alan Contreras - Oregon Office of Degree Authorization - Washington Post July 31, 2008

Hell hath no fury like that of a medical student shortchanged. And if Jerry Grace feels shortchanged, he will hang around for months trying to provoke official action.The only problem is that until this week no one was listening to Jeffrey Grace, a U.S. citizen.His story is complex and expensive. Plus he had a number of fellow medical students, mostly from the United States, who feel similarly short-changed but did not stick around to complain.Grace is among 12 students who registered to attend the San Judas Tadeo medical school. Most were recruited from the United States, but one Canadian, on Bahaman and a woman from Trinidad and Tobago also were in the class.Grace and J. Duke Moseley are among those who believe that their $3,000 a month tuition was spent badly.Moseley, who switched to another medical school here a year ago, said Thursday that the class met for a time at nights in the San Judas high school on Avenida 10 in Sabana Este. Later officials of the school moved the class to an apartment in Sabana Oeste and then to Rohrmoser, he said.The basic complaint is that the students expected a three-year, English-language medical program of U.S. quality. Instead, they believe they got something less. Plus they believe that the school is not really qualified as a medical school and any diplomas they might earn would have no value.Moseley said Cuban physicians dominated the faculty, and most did not speak English. They were something less than the U.S. board-certified professors he said he was promised.An anatomy lab was taught by a Tico student a single semester ahead of the class, he said. The school finally managed to bring in a cadaver so the future physicians could have hands-on anatomy training, but when educational officials visited, the bodies were hidden from view, probably because the school lacked the proper permits, he said.Moseley had nothing but good things to say about Grace, who stayed here attempting to get some kind of official action. Finally, this week, Channel 7, Teletica, featured a report about the school and another school, Empresarial University (www.unem.edu) that even now is actively soliciting students from the United States.Said Grace Thursday in an e-mail: "Yes I stuck it out, but to say the doors slammed on me would be inaccurate. Most of the time they never opened. Even from the authorities up in States. I am so disgusted with all of these people."

Costa Rica officials are investigating both the San Judas situation and the new medical school at Empresarial University that said it would accept its first class in January. Officials are unable to verify that the university is licensed to run a medical school.

Grace said he would go on: "I still intend to continue my medical studies and, thank God for the support I have from a great wife. She has stood by me throughout this whole ordeal."/Zitat

The U.S. State of Georgia has forbidden a man there to recruit for a troubled medical school in San José.

Shelvey Holland, standards administrator of the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, took the action last week. The state official said that a cease-and-desist letter had been mailed to the man, Dr. Winston Cannon.The Georgia official said that Cannon has been recruiting in Georgia for St. Jude Medical School and/or Empresarial University. Both institutions are in San José.Neither institution has been authorized to recruit in Georgia. "Therefore, any kind of operation or recruiting in Georgia or from a base in Georgia has been illegal in this state unless and until these institutions apply for and, if possible, gain a certificate of authorization by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission," the state official said.The decision by Georgia is a victory for Jeffrey Grace, a U.S. citizen who came to San José to train as a physician. He spent a year here trying to get Costa Rican officials to look into the school after he decided in September 2001 that he was not getting an adequate education. He had little luck in attracting official attention.Grace said that the medical school is associated with Colegio Univeritario San Judus Tadeo in Sabana. Grace said that he and 11 others were recruited for the school’s "American plan." Classes were supposed to be in English, and the successful graduates were supposed to be able to get jobs in their own countries, Grace said the school claimed. Some, but not all, of the students were recruited by Cannon from Georgia.The principal complaints about the medical school say the school lacked accreditation, lacked qualified, English-speaking faculty members, had inadequate resources and failed to provide basic resources for education, such as cadavers for anatomy class. One student said that an apartment in Sabana Oeste was used for a time as a classroom.Empresarial University seems to have had some relationship with St. Jude’s Medical School. Empresarial got into trouble with Costa Rican officials last month because it was featuring photos of some of the nation’s biggest hospitals on its Web page.The Web page has been updated, although links still exist to a medical school and a veterinarian school. But the linked pages are both described as being under construction.Empresarial also said that it offers doctoral degrees, including one in biological sciences. It also promotes a master’s of business administration on line, but that page, too, is under construction.The Web page says that the university campus is in an urban residential area in Curridabat. The Web page said the school had been called the International Post-Graduate School until 1997.Empresarial’s president is Aldo Erazo, and the rector is Lic. Noel Henriquez, said the Web page.The Georgia official said that a copy of the cease-and-desist order has been sent to the president of Empresarial University and to the Consul General of Costa Rica in New Orleans./ZitatQuelle: http://www.amcostarica.com/111202.htm

I am posting this letter that I originally sent to the ECFMG regarding the St Judes School of Medicine and the Empresarial University in Costa Rica. A dozen or so of US canadian students come down to this med school that was a very bogus medical school.

In fact the president of Empresarial - Aldo Erazo- has now disaffilated himself with St Judes and has gone out on his own. His medical school will be known as the UNEM School of Medicine. www.UNEM.edu

Understand that in order to have a medical school in costa rica all you have to have is paperwork incorporating a school name and a filing to CONESUP.

Its that easy tomake your own school;anyway read on....

Ms. Carol Bede,

ECFMG

Philadelphia, PA

September 28, 2002

Dear Ms. Bede,

I would like to inform you of another university in Costa Rica that is attempting to create a medical school and apply for recognition from the ECFMG.

The reason for my writing is that the President of the Empresarial University—Aldo Erazo—was the one of the principals involving the St Judes Medical School fiasco. He has now severed his ties with St Judes and is again attempting to defraud Americans again by attempting to set up another “medical school”, and by advertising that his school is WHO listed. The School of Medicine has NOT been approved by CONESUP, yet the web-site for Empresarial University lists the Medical school, along with a veterinarian school that also has not been approved by CONESUP. Empresarial University, is under investigation for awarding non-approved Ph.D’s, a traditional “diploma mill”.

These people are still advertising and allowing application submittal for classes starting in January 2003!

I am attempting to verify information that several medical degrees have been awarded already from Empresarial University…allegedly under the imprimatur of UNEM School of Medicine.

This brings up the subject about Costa Rica’s wholly inadequate policing efforts by CONESUP. This governmental regulatory body, entrusted to monitor and certify the private school system in Costa Rica, has historically not been able to shut down fraudulent schools, nor stop schools from operating without permits. This is not just medical schools.

One medical school operated for years without obtaining approval, permits, or inspections because they never bothered to apply. There is no concern from these schools of any regulatory action or sanction from the government. One school operated for years in flagrant disregard of CONESUP, before being listed with the ECFMG.

I have been told by a student at UNIBE that an investigation of allegations regarding falsification of transcripts by one of the administrative staff charged with students transferring from other schools. Obviously it is very difficult to verify these reports , however enough anedotal experience exists to lend crediibility to reports of this nature. Bribery is a way of life down here and you can pretty much obtain what you want without regard for the sancity of reputation or integrity.

There is continued abuse of the system and no obvious efforts by any past nor present administrations to correct the problems. Woefully underbudgeted and understaffed, it has for some time lead critics to suspect possible compromised action on the part of some of the administration. The creation of a non-approved St. Judes Medical school and Empresarial University are two recent examples. Look at the efforts of the St Judes to by-pass the normal , legal process. Several of us have seen one of the documents submitted to the ECFMG and have critical questions regarding its authenticity.

All former students are certainly happy that thus far, St Judes has not been listed with the ECFMG.

It has been a consistent effort on the part of St Judes to bypass normal administrative process to obtain certification. It has been the same way in their attempts for listing with the World Health Organization. IF they are a legitamate school, why do they have to bypass the normal route to a listing??

In speaking with the President of another Costa Rican medical school attempting to be listed, , he commented that the WHO is suspicious of applications from any Costa Rican medical schools now, because “ one of the medical schools here has been listing itself as WHO listed when it is knowingly not”! It’s not hard to guess which one he was referring to.

Empresarial University, is under investigation for awarding non-approved Ph.D’s, a traditional “diploma mill”.

Furthermore, “Dr. Winston Cannon” basing his office in Logansville, Georgia, was one of the recruiters for the St. Judes Medical School, and is presently being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Suspicion has surrounded this individual and his alleged involvement with Caribbean medical school scams from the 1980’s. He is also the subject of investigation by the Georgia Department of Education for alleged improprieties of state law. I wrote to the state of Georgia regarding my complaint and was answered back that it was being sent to the appropriate agencies for review…whatever that means.

Like Yogi Berri said, “Its Déjà vu all over again”.

I have written my congressman, Mike Rogers, who is a former FBI agent, about this situation with St Judes Medical School, well as several state and federal agencies.

Based on my observations, ALL Costa Rican medical schools should be unlisted and must re-submit applications for ECFMG listings. I would have onsite inspections of these schools by a representative of the ECFMG.

I would have a basic criteria that must be met from these medical schools before the process would begin. The costs for these ECFMG onsite inspections to be borne by the schools requesting listing from the ECFMG. I have visited most of the medical schools here and reviewed the curriculums, observed the facilities and visited CONESUP. Several of the schools have excellent programs, curriculums, and facilities.

Appendix

However, the problem is if one unapproved school “sneaks” through and receives certification. The government of Costa Rica MUST understand the seriousness of this situation and correct their internal problems before allowing the medical schools to be listed. It should be a privilege to be listed with the ECFMG, not a right. Because one school is listed from a country doesn’t necessarily mean the others are equally qualified.

St Judes is a very good example of a totally inadequate school that must not be allowed to receive a listing with the ECFMG. It has no library, woefully inadequate laboratory facilities, unlicensed physicians teach classes. In fact some classes have students with no more than bachelor’s degrees teach teaching classes such as Medical Genetics. No clinical experience of any type. It was the consensus of the students, that instructors were hired more for their ability to speak English, then for competency in their respective field.

This is not the type of medical school that one would expect to be listed with the ECFMG.

Attempts by one of the former medical students, Jim Corruzi, to verify the medical school degree from Louisiana State University for the medical director at St Judes – Dr. Rodrigo Gutierrez Saenz- turned out negative, as the records of LSU did not show him in attendance. This was by written notification from the alumni office at LSU. I will have one of these government agencies search out his records to verify his attendance and degree.

I have filed a complaint with the Office of the Judicial Investigation about both schools, St Judes and Empresarial.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for this week. I have also asked the prosecutor in this case to bring a lawsuit against the CONESUP for criminal negligence in failing to monitor this matter.

Furthermore the Oficina de la Information y a la Victima, (Office for Victims Rights) is also investigating the matter and I will be speaking to a lawyer in that office who will represent me in recovering money lost to St Judes. I am contacting the other students who came down here so they can also file complaints.

I went to the US Embassy to lodge a complaint and spoke to the legal attaché about the bogus WebPages that recruited the Americans to this fraudulent medical school. They in turn told me to connect the various Costa Rican agencies. Also to write to the FBI in the states to look in to this there.

I will also file a complaint with the Costa Rican governmental agency for Tourist Affairs. I want as many people in governmental agencies to be informed of this situation and to do something about it. Upon my return to the states I will be doing the same. I’ll start with the FBI office in Flint Michigan and go from there.

I have written the President of Costa Rica, Dr Abel Pacheco, about this situation along with providing a copy of this letter . He won the 2002 presidential election based in part on his commitment for quality education in Costa Rica. Let him live up to his pledge.

Zitat/HilleEmpresarial University ?Good Morning, Has anyone registered or taken any classes. I am not getting responces to my e-mails. Thanks. Have a peaceful Sunday. Hille

02-11-2002, 01:47 AMJohn BearA search here found 6 threads, but lack of information seems the norm. Caballero LaCaye, whose absence was noted yesterday, was hoping to visit on one of trips to Central America late last year. Perhaps we shall hear from him.

02-16-2002, 11:43 AMI have never heard of anyone actually doing coursework. There was some questions surrounding the school's accreditation which were raised. I do not remember the outcome. Hopefully, someone will be able to fill us in./Zitat